{"id":4252,"date":"2020-08-21T12:35:57","date_gmt":"2020-08-21T10:35:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.revistaitransporte.com\/?p=4252"},"modified":"2020-09-02T20:03:33","modified_gmt":"2020-09-02T18:03:33","slug":"australia-extends-inecos-reach-to-five-continents","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.revistaitransporte.com\/australia-extends-inecos-reach-to-five-continents\/","title":{"rendered":"Australia extends Ineco\u2019s reach to five continents"},"content":{"rendered":"

As the systems integrator, Spanish public engineering firm Ineco will be in charge of supporting TfNSW, as subconsultant of Network Rail Consulting (NRC), in the development, integration and implementation of the new railway systems for the network, together with Acmena and Go-Ahead Group. This is a critical factor in enabling the network to significantly increase its capacity and absorb future demand.<\/p>\n

The project, which will run through the end of 2020, is Ineco\u2019s first contract in Australia, a country where large investments are being made in infrastructure and where Spanish companies are key players in the sector. Ineco\u2019s extensive experience in the field of ERTMS both in Spain and in Europe where, among other things, it is collaborating at the highest levels of the European Commission to implement this system along the continent\u2019s core corridors, was the key factor behind NRC\u2019s selection of Ineco to carry out the project.<\/p>\n

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A map of Sydney\u2019s commuter network, with the first two lines that are part of this initial phase of digitalisation highlighted in red. \/ IMAGE_TfNSW<\/p><\/div>\n

Digital systems to modernise the network<\/h4>\n

In June 2018, the Government of New South Wales announced an investment of $880 million in technology improvements in order to modernise the Sydney Trains network, including the development of digital systems, to be delivered in phases and to be brought into service progressively over the coming years. The ultimate goal of this ambitious operation is to enable more frequent and reliable services to meet the needs of Sydney as a growing global city. Digital systems is part of the \u2018More Trains, More Services\u2019 program launched by TfNSW in June 2018, which aims to modernise Sydney\u2019s rail network to increase safety, expand capacity and improve passenger experience.<\/p>\n

Ineco\u2019s experience\u00a0with ERTMS in\u00a0Europe \u2013where it collaborates\u00a0with the European Commission\u2013\u00a0is a key factor for this project<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

One of the most valuable lessons learned from the implementation of a state-of-the-art signalling system is that the entire process should not be solely about technology. The elimination of lateral signalling when migrating to ETCS level 2 represents a major change in operational rules. New skills and abilities must be incorporated in order to be able to develop in this technological environment, where new system functionalities require the definition of procedures and the adaptation of the human component in organisations, bringing in new roles and structures. A combination of efforts focused on people, processes and technology is therefore vital to the correct development of this ambitious digitalisation plan, with the human factor being perhaps one of the main focuses of attention in the preparatory work of planning and design.<\/p>\n

Transport for New South Wales, located in south-east Australia, tendered the contract for the development and subsequent implementation of a new digital signalling system based on the European ETCS level 2 standard in 2018, as part of the programme for the digitalisation of its railway network. This component of the services is known as the system integrator and will initially address the digitalisation of two lines in the Sydney commuter network. The system integrator\u2019s role is especially important, since it not only participates in the design of the solution to be implemented, but is also responsible for ensuring that the deployment of the new system is perfectly integrated into the existing railway network, in which different suppliers of signalling and control, rolling stock and communications coexist. The contract was awarded in late 2018 to the British company NRC, together with the Spanish public engineering company Ineco as well as Acmena (Australian engineering) and Go-Ahead (a British operator).<\/p>\n